I didn’t presume to know what my future held, but something told me that my skills wouldn't be as useful, at least not in this camp. Was it worth risking an escape to try to get to a better life, or risk the chance of being caught and forfeit the very thought of freedom?
“Hi,” a female voice that sounded familiar addressed me and I looked over to see Karisha appear by my side.
She was an absolute vision. Today, she wore a blue lace dress that caressed her form so tauntingly, even my mouth dropped. I couldn’t imagine what the men in this camp thought when they saw her.
Karisha’s golden hair was braided to the side to make room for an impressive set of sapphire earrings, a perfect combination for the colour of her dress and the shine in her eyes. She looked like a princess in a sea of mud, and she shone even the brighter for it.
“Hello,” I replied, unable to contain a smile at the sight of her.
“I heard Dahr’s voice and came to investigate,” she explained. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” Her surprise at thesight of me was genuine, which told me that prisoners being given free roam around the camp was not the norm.
“I am under guard and threat, so I wouldn’t call my situation the greatest,” I confessed and took a step towards her while watching my assigned guard in the corner of my eye. My guess was correct, and as soon as I took one step away from him, he mirrored my movement and closed the distance in between us once again.
So, this man was going to trail me for the rest of the day, I sighed to myself.
Not unless…
“What are your plans for the day?” I asked Karisha, curious and hoping that I would receive an invitation to join her.
“I was planning to come pay you a visit and offer to update your wardrobe,” the gorgeous woman said carefully, as her eyes scanned my clothing slowly.
I didn’t have to think too hard to know how I must have looked compared to her stunning gown and presence. I was dirty, I stank and hadn’t washed in a week. My clothes were sticking to my skin, and I didn’t even want to imagine what taking off my shoes would do to the air around me.
“That would be much appreciated,” I dipped my chin in gratitude and followed the direction of her hand as it slid towards another tent in invitation.
I halfexpected the guard, Sylam, to join us, but fortunately, he stopped at the entrance of the tent, the silhouette of his shadow visible from the other side of the fabric. Thank the lord, because the last thing I needed was to be spied on while I hopefully got a new change of clothes.
“Thank you for inviting me to your tent,” I hurried to tell Karisha, not wanting to appear ungrateful, but when my eyes scanned the interior, my words halted. “It is…” I stopped, unwilling to let my first impression come out.
She must have understood my reaction and luckily, took the observation upon herself, brushing my unsaid commentary off.
“Much smaller than what you were hoping for?” the woman said, without a dash of scorn in her voice.
“I apologise, I didn’t mean—”
“Please, do not trouble yourself. We can’t all be Grannicus, can we?” she smiled and moved towards the side of the tent, where a small block of wooden shelves overflowed with fabrics. As she opened one of the drawers at the bottom in search of something, I took the opportunity to look around.
The tent she resided in was probably one quarter in size compared to Dahr’s. There was no decor, artwork or even a sculpture and there was barely room for a small bed, a table with four chairs and that corner which I assumed consisted of her wardrobe.
Just like I had seen in Dahr’s tent, there was also some sort of flap that contained weaponry to the side of the tent, right near the exit, which could be concealed at will.
“I didn’t think you would carry weapons,” I confessed, looking at the multitude of swords, knives and even a few axes that were hung into the fabric like a wall of fame.
“My mate,” she smiled slowly as she stood and walked back to me, holding a few fabrics. I had hoped that she would share her fashion with me, but alas, the wardrobe she had in mind was made to accommodate the drake fashion and not the human one she was wearing.
“Of course,” I said to both of my realisations. The fact that I had forgotten that I had already met her mate and that I was slightly disappointed in her choice of clothing for me.
Karisa pressed her lips together in a slight apology as she handed me two pieces of fabric.
“Everyone dresses like this,” she pointed out. “I am only allowed to stand out because I am the tribe lady. I need to be easily spotted.”
I wanted to ask her about her status, but she felt the need to give me more explanation. “Grannicus didn’t like it at first, but luckily, Markos is his second cousin so I only needed a night with my mate to make sure my wish was granted, if you know what I mean,” she giggled playfully, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
My cheeks burnt as I did so, the dirty thoughts I had when I last saw my captor made me want to bury my head in the sand and never come out for air.
“I gave that up a long time ago,” I said instead and thanked her for the clothes.
Karisha looked at me in surprise but seeing how I didn’t offer any other explanation, she was happy to open a changing panel for me and had a few buckets of water brought in along with soap, where I could wash my hair.
